Van Morrison Claims He Is A Victim of Freedom of Speech - Noise11.com
Van Morrison photo by Ros O'Gorman

Van Morrison photo by Ros O'Gorman

Van Morrison Claims He Is A Victim of Freedom of Speech

by Music-News.com on April 28, 2021

in News

Van Morrison claims he’s had a “very negative reaction” for exercising “freedom of speech” in his songs.

Van Morrison has been open about his criticism of lockdowns and released three protest songs last year and launched a campaign to save live music amid the coronavirus pandemic, but he was dismayed that only Eric Clapton paid attention to his plea for fellow artists to “fight the pseudoscience and speak up”.

Morrison is concerned people are being silenced for expressing alternative views.

He told the Times newspaper’s Saturday Review: “The only other person who has any traction or motivation to speak out about what’s going on, to get out there and question things, is Eric.

“A few people got a petition together to end the lockdown, but nobody pays attention to petitions, do they?

“If I can write about it, I do. Poetic licence, freedom of speech … these used to be OK. Why not now? I don’t understand it. Some people call it a cult. It is like a religion. Whether anyone agrees with me or not is irrelevant.

“Just as there should be freedom of the press, there should be freedom of speech, and at the minute it feels like that is not in the framework.

“If you do songs that are an expression of freedom of speech you get a very negative reaction.”

And Morrison doesn’t think it’s “a given” that live music will return any time soon.

Asked when he thinks gigs will be back, he said: “I heard that some music promoters met with the people at Imperial College who are running the whole thing.

“Well, really, Klaus [Schwab, the executive chairman of the World Economic Forum] is running the whole thing.

“Your guess is as good as mine because freedom is not a given any more. You have to fight for it. That’s where the blues come in.”

Van’s views on the state of the world are explored on his new album ‘Latest Record Project: Volume 1’ and he revealed he got the 28-song tracklist down from the more than 50 tracks he’s written over the last 18 months, though he insisted inspiration doesn’t come easily.

He said: “When you are on a roll you tend to write more and keep going, and with not doing any gigs one has more time to reflect.

“I write in the morning, every day from breakfast until lunch, and for that time I’ll be concentrating fully.

“Inspiration doesn’t come down the chimney. You have to work at magic. And a lot of the time it is a case of working through boredom, with the period when you’re bored generally ending up being the most creative. I talked to an artist once who told me he has to stare at a blank canvas for ages before he can start painting.”

music-news.com

Noise11.com

Follow Noise11 on Social Media

NEW: Noise11 on YouTube SUBSCRIBE

Noise11 on Instagram

You’ll discover music news first following Noise11 on Twitter

Comment on the news of the day, join Noise11 on Facebook

Related Posts

The Beatles Australasian Tour 1964
New Beatles Book Marks 60 Years Since The Australian Tour

A new book on The Beatles by Andy Neill and Greg Armstrong is focused on The Beatles one and only ever Australian tour from back in 1964.

7 hours ago
The Who Roger Daltrey. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
Roger Daltrey Closes Princes Trust 2024 Event With Plant, Vedder, Weller

Closing a week of incredible shows last night was Ovation - A Celebration of 24 Years of gigs for Teenage Cancer Trust, a show featuring Roger Daltrey’s friends and fans, many of those who helped establish these gigs as a celebrated annual event: Roger himself, alongside Kelly Jones, Robert Plant with Saving Grace, Eddie Vedder and Paul Weller.

3 days ago
Deep Purple: Photo By Ros O'Gorman
Deep Purple Reveal UK Dates For End of 2024

Deep Purple are hitting the road this November.

March 20, 2024
Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend, The Who. photo by Ros O'Gorman
Roger Daltrey To Do Most Acoustic Tour of UK

Roger Daltrey has announced a "mostly acoustic" solo tour this summer.

March 20, 2024
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Photo By Ros O'Gorman
Todd Rundgren, Rickie Lee Jones To Play Crosby, Stills & Nash Tribute Show In New York

A tribute show to Crosby, Stills & Nash is planned for May with Todd Rundgren and Rickie Lee Jones just two of the star lined up to perform.

March 18, 2024
Smokey Robinson, Noise11, Photo
Smokey Robinson Could Be In For Glastonbury

Smokey Robinson is being lined up for his first Glastonbury headline slot.

March 14, 2024
The Doors Alive
The Doors Alive To Return To Australia In October

Since 2008 The Doors Alive have been performing the music of The Doors with around 200 performances in 20 countries over that time.

March 12, 2024